Letter: When racism is not the relevant issue
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Kenan Malik ('Start to stereotype in 9.87sec', 17 August) is as guilty as the society he starts to criticise. When will we be able to see a black athlete or sportsman reach the pinnacle of his sport, watch him celebrate his achievement, fly the Union Jack with pride, sing the National Anthem and accept that we are watching a British citizen win and be done with it?
I watched with excitement and pride Linford Christie's achievement in a sport previously dominated by the US, and celebrated the win that it was. I watched the lap of honour and hoped at the time that British society was mature enough not to write patronising articles on how good it was to see a black Briton succeeding in his chosen field.
It took Kenan Malik a day to come up with the predictable and analyse racism in Britain once again. While racism is certainly a force to be dealt with, by making it a topical subject every time a black person succeeds only raises colour as an issue that was not previously in anybody's mind. When racism occurs, pin it down and kill it; but when the best advert for a mixed-race nation becomes a national hero, leave it well alone.
Yours faithfully,
JAMES HASSLACHER
London, SW15
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments